Wert's can be described as a "comfy" place to eat. You don't feel underdressed or worry that someone is giving you the side-eye for using the wrong fork. And it's popular: The place became packed just after we got our food.

The burgers: I asked owner Kathy Wert what I should try. She suggested the classic Wert's Burger — an 8-ounce ground beef burger stuffed with mushrooms and onions. Mine was topped with American cheese, lettuce and tomato ($6.75). Two words: Burger perfection. It was juicy, pink (exactly right), seasoned beautifully and had the right ratio of lightly toasted bun to burger. Steph had the Ranchero, topped with bacon, cooper cheese and ranch dressing served on a toasted kaiser roll ($7.50). All the toppings complemented the perfectly prepared burger.

Sides: When you go (and yes, I'm insisting you go) you gotta have the onion rings. We've all had those greasy onion rings where the batter slides off and you're left with just the onion. Wert's Cafe makes these super delicate, wispy curls of lightly battered onions ($7.50). (They're really onion strings rather than rings.) You get an overflowing basket of them (great to share). Also delicious are the fried pickle spears (super salty and crispy). For dessert, we had the coconut cream pie, which was dreamy and delicious.

The lowdown: The Burgery Co. is a unique restaurant on the outskirts of Emmaus. It's casual inside — you place your order at the counter and have a seat till it's ready. While the atmosphere is laid-back, the burger selection is not. It offers 10 type of Angus beef burgers, three prime rib burgers and two Kobe burgers. And that's just the beef varieties. You can also choose from four types of turkey, five kinds of fish, three chicken, two pork burgers and two veggie burgers. Then there are the game-meat burgers such as elk, venison, ostrich and bison.

The burgers: I chose the Badger, which features American cheese, bacon, crispy shoestring french fries and its famous Burgery barbecue sauce ($10.79). Outstanding balance of beef, bun and toppings. The beef had that perfect caramelization and seasoning and was juicy and perfectly pink. The soft bun was proportionate to the burger and the toppings were oozy and messy (and I mean that kindly.) My husband, who loves spicy food, chose the Sun Devil, which features a mix of pepper jack cheese, salsa, fried jalapenos and "fire dust." Good peppery heat but still balanced overall ($9.79).

The sides: Sides are a separate cost. My oldest daughter, Norah, loved the Wolverine Fries, which were shoestring french fries topped with cheese, bacon and ranch (small, $3.99; large, $5.69). You can also take a trip back to your childhood and get the Tater Tots ($3.99). And you can get a shake featuring locally made Longacre's ice cream. The day we went they had chocolate, vanilla, black and white, coffee and raspberry.

The lowdown: This downtown Allentown restaurant specializes in burgers with an upscale feel and craft beer (much of it locally made such as Funk, HiJinx and Two Rivers). It has a nice atmosphere, perfect for a casual Saturday night date or a relaxed lunch with co-workers.

The burgers: I like the Bell Burger — made from local grass-fed beef, with cheddar, lettuce, tomato and onion and bacon jam ($13). If you haven't had bacon jam, you haven't lived. It's a condiment that's sweet, salty and smoky. (And it's made from bacon. Enough said.) If you like your burger with some heat, try the Phantom Burger, featuring pepper jack, chipotle aioli and jalapenos ($12). Another good option is the Cowbell, featuring Swiss cheese (a great cheese for burgers), caramelized onions and spicy mustard ($12).

Sides: You get some truly good house fries (seasoned perfectly) with your burger. Or you can choose to get sweet potato fries or a side salad.

The lowdown: A great option if you're craving a beer and a burger. The Beef Baron has a simple straightforward menu, a long list of bottled and craft beers on draft and a full bar. The restaurant, tucked into a strip mall in Bethlehem, has been around for more than four decades. Service was extremely friendly.

The burgers: I got The Baron — a half-pound burger topped with grilled onions, cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato ($8.99). I needed extra napkins because it's that juicy. If you like a larger roll with your burger, you'll like The Baron. (You may need to disconnect your jaw to get your mouth around this burger.) Chips are included.

Sides: No sides at The Beef Baron, because all you need is your giant burger.

Note: It's cash only.

Where: 2366 Catasauqua Road, Bethlehem

Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday to Saturday; 1 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday

Info: bit.ly/2sb8VSv, 610-868-8995

Two Rivers Brewing Co.

The lowdown: Two Rivers Brewing Co. has developed a following for its peanut butter bacon cheese burger. A bonus: The weather was perfect on my visit for eating outdoors at this Easton restaurant.

The burgers: I had to try the peanut butter bacon cheese burger. Now, settle down: It's not that weird. Peanut butter and bacon pair beautifully, so to put that on top of a burger isn't a stretch. It starts with a half pound grass-fed organic beef burger from Breakaway Farms in Lancaster County. The toppings are a "peanut brittle dust," bacon, cheddar (the best cheese for a burger in my opinion), chili gastrique and pickled red onions ($15.50). With the first bite, you get a hit of peanut butter, juicy burger and salty bacon. It's an interesting twist and worth checking out. We also tested a beef and bacon cheddar burger, which was delicious ($15). Both burgers had perfect buns (good bread vs. meat ratio) and were cooked to medium. Burgers come with Belgian frites or a side salad.

Sides: Lots to choose from, but I had to try the duck fat fries ($7.50). Duck fat is a beautiful thing. These fries were perfectly crispy and made from hand-cut potatoes and topped with shaved Pecorino-Romano cheese and drizzled with white truffle oil (not too much.)